Controlled synthesis of N-doped carbon and TiO2 double-shelled nanospheres with encapsulated multi-layered MoO3 nanosheets as an anode for reversible lithium storage

α‐phase molybdenum trioxide (α‐MoO3) is one of the promising anode materials for lithium storage due to its high theoretical capacity and unique intercalation reaction mechanism. Herein, through an efficient step-by-step solvothermal synthesis strategy, multi-layered MoO3 nanosheets are encapsulated by nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) and ultrathin TiO2 double-shells to obtain hierarchical core-shell nanospheres (MoO3@TiO2@NC). The unique nanostructure enables to shorten the Li+ diffusion distance, buffer the volume change during intercalation/deintercalation process, and increase the active sites for the electrochemical reaction. Based on the hierarchical nanostructure and the synergistic effect of each component, the MoO3@TiO2@NC electrode exhibit high Li+ storage capacity around 979.6 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g-1, stable cycle performance of 800.3 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 after 700 cycles and excellent rate capability of 418.0 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1. Furthermore, the MoO3@TiO2@NC based coin-type full cell with commercial LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode exhibited good cycling stability at 0.2 A g-1 for 100 cycles (~190 mAh g-1) and rate capability (134 mA h g-1 at 5 A g-1).